Sentences with phrase «subcutaneous dirofilariasis»

Diagnosis of subcutaneous dirofilariasis was based on the following established criteria: a) pruritus lasting more than 1 wee; b) presence of cutaneous lesions; c) microfilariasis caused only by Dirofilaria repens; d) negative serology for antibodies to Dirofilaria immitis.

It was thus worthy to report this retrospective analysis of 19 feline cases of subcutaneous dirofilariasis observed in an area of Central Italy, from wich 4 human cases have already been reported (Pampiglione et al., 1995; Pampiglione and Rivasi, 2000) and suitable vectors are present (Romi et al., 1997; Grelloni and Biasini, 2002), although no animal reservoirs has ever been noticed.

Diagnosis of subcutaneous dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria repens was made on 19 cats from Central Italy, the age of which ranged between 8 months and 12 years.

In this view, canine and feline cases of subcutaneous dirofilariasis should be also reported as far as possible, in order to assess the presence, prevalence and pathogenicity of Dirofilaria repens in the animal reservoirs and final hosts.

Treatment of subcutaneous dirofilariasis has been rarely reported in cats (Tarello, 2000a - b) although it is suggested for animals suffering from clinical signs of this disease (Baneth et al., 2002).

Epidemiology of feline subcutaneous dirofilariasis has received little attention in the past, if compared with studies carried on the canine population (Rossi et al., 1996).

Diagnosis of canine dirofilariosis in animals which originate from a low - endemic region is difficult for 3 main reasons: 1) possible absence of circulating microfilariae (occult disease), 2) high frequency of a low number of adults, which in turn produces false negative results, using either ELISA or latex agglutination test, 3) possible false sero - positive results, due to cross-reaction with adult antigens of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens (Schrey, 1996), the agent of subcutaneous dirofilariasis causing chronic pruritic dermatitis in dogs (Tarello, 1999).